Comment by AB: Lapse into a state of linear bliss courtesy of Max Cole's highly refined acrylics on linen-- impressive at a distance, even better up close. In the anteroom, Katya Bonnenfant (currently monikering herself around as "The Old Boys' Club") puts forth an elaborate symbol-saturated adventure centered around the trials and tribulations of a young girl vs modern life. Pick of First Thursday on both counts.

Art by Max Cole.

Max Cole art.

Pinkie cam detail of art by Max Cole in above image (like it).

Art by Max Cole.

Max Cole art - acrylic paintings on linen.

Art by The Old Boys' Club (aka Katya Bonnenfant).

Art by The Old Boys' Club (aka Katya Bonnenfant) in above image closer.

Comment by AB: Berkeley photographer Katy Grannan tells me the subjects of her uncompromisingly intense portraits are street people of San Francisco and Los Angeles, photographed in direct sun against stark white walls along the boulevards where they hang (she mentions Santa Monica Boulevard in particular). At times, you almost don't want to look... but you do... you have to, really. Being forced to face all these folks you really don't want to think about requires reflection on who they are, what their lives might be like, and maybe even why you're here looking at them while they're there living it.

Comment by AB: I'm gonna guess that this series of fiery vital expressionist semi-representational paintings by Michael Ajerman, an American artist living in London, depicts what life is like in Glossolilia.